My Genealogy Hound

John L. Short, M. D., surgeon in charge of the Rolla Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Infirmary, of Rolla, was born at Iberia, Miller Co., Mo., in 1853, being the son of Evan L., and Nancy A. (Jones) Short, grandson of Ruben Short, and great-grandson of John Short, who was born in Virginia in 1756, and died in Linn County, Iowa, in 1836. His wife, Mary Hansford, was born in 1758, and died in 1821. She spoke and read the German language. John Short was of Welsh descent; was a Baptist minister, but in the year 1825 he and his son, Wesley Short, Alexander Campbell and B. W. Stone renounced the Baptist doctrine, and took up the Christian faith. John Short immigrated to Kentucky in pioneer times, and lived on bear meat one year. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Ruben Short was born October 15, 1794, in West Virginia, and he and his father, John Short, moved to Kentucky, and from Kentucky to Linn County, Iowa, in 1817. In 1830 Ruben Short moved to Greene County, Iowa, and in three years moved to Sangamon County, Ill., where he purchased 200 acres of land. In 1837 he sold out for $5 per acre, and moved to Miller County, Mo. He died in Arkansas in 1867. Evan L. Short went to Illinois with his parents, and in the winter of 1835 went to Linn County, Iowa, where he taught his first term of school. In 1837 he went to Miller County, Mo., and hauled goods from St. Louis, Mo., one trip taking him thirteen days. He made a trip south to Mississippi and Louisiana with a drove of horses, and sold out and boarded a steamer at Vicksburg and returned home. After returning north he entered a select school for a term of six months; in fact all his education was received by private instructions. In 1838-39 he taught a public school two terms in Cole County, Mo., near Jefferson City, and in 1840 taught a school in Miller County. During his teaching he commenced reading medicine. In 1841 he married Miss Nancy Ann Jones, who was born in 1824, and who was the daughter of William B. and Didama (Burks) Jones. In 1844 Evan L. Short moved to Benton County, and the following year to Morgan County, and two years later returned to Miller County, where he has since resided. Evan L. Short practiced medicine for over twenty years, but the past few years he retired to quiet life. He is the father of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, Dr. John L. Short being the sixth child in order of birth. He received a good literary education in the common schools, was reared on the farm until twenty-one years of age, and was never out of the sight of his mother two days at a time during that time. He commenced the study of medicine under his father at an early age, and in 1874 commenced practicing in Dyer County, Tenn. He was there three years, and then returned home and located at Crocker, Pulaski Co., Mo., where he practiced until 1884. In 1878 he married Miss Martha Jane Tramble, who was born in Van Burensburg, Ill., in 1863. They have two children: Rosa E. and Nancy A. In 1884 Dr. Short removed to Kansas City, and attended the medical department of the University of Kansas City, where he graduated as an M. D. He practiced his profession in Kansas City until 1887. In 1887 he came to Rolla, Mo., where he commenced his practice. In September, 1888, he founded the Eye and Ear Infirmary of Rolla, securing the assistance of the leading physicians and best business men of Rolla. For the short time it has been organized the institution has grown rapidly, and the Doctor is meeting with marked success, having patients from several States, and a large patronage at home, and all are fully satisfied with the treatment. Dr. Short is a very skillful physician and surgeon, and has gained a wide-spread reputation as an eye and ear specialist, which is due to the remarkable cures that follow his treatment. He is a member of the Rolla District Medical Society, is a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W., is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.